There was a rather gorgeous restoration for the 2001 DVD (it was rereleased in 2006, but get the 2001 version if you can - the documentary on the disc is simply one of the finest making-of ever produced). It was one of the first things I put in my player when I got an HDTV, unfortuntately while it looks good, it could look SO much better.

That said, as Dubstar pointed out, Fotokem did some 4K scans of the 4-hour, released version of Cleopatra awhile back. The film's 50th anniversary is in 2013, so I'm assuming we'll have it on Blu by then (and maybe even new higher-K transfers, since it was shot native in 70mm it should look stunning). I would hope with Taylor's advancing age and health issues they capture her at some point for some great bonus materials - cripes what I wouldn't give for a commentary on even part of this film by her. Besides the content of the film itself, the making of this movie had probably the most influence of any single film from the latter half of the 20th century.

Unfortunately, we have never seen the real film, and while it's been said that Fox, et al have tried to locate the missing footage, it doesn't seem as if there have been any major "finds" yet. As you may know, Cleopatra was originally two films, and in their initial presentation to the studio were 6 hours log. The issue is, it never made it out of the studio that way - so it's hard going to find prints as they were not widely distributed of the original version (which by all accounts is a much better film).

I'll be happy with the 4-hour version, though. I used to love to show the DVD to people and say, "See that? It's REAL. Like, that really is Elizabeth Taylor coming down a full-sized recreation of ancient Greece, and there really are thousands and thousands of extras chanting her name" (though if you look really closely some of them are yelling, "Elizabeth" LOL). It's so amazing to realize what real film making was before it became "let's paint on a computer screen".

I'd buy this day one, no doubt.

If you have to whip out a microscope to decide if you like a Blu-ray or not, you are missing the point.

I would buy it on Blu-ray, it's one of those movies from a time that will never come again. I always enjoyed this movie.

---------------------------------------------------My avatar will Wait Until Dark for a Roman Holiday since this world as War & Peace
and it would be fun to actually have Breakfast At Tiffany's with My Fair Lady

What a magnificent Blu-Ray Cleopatra would make! Complete Roadshow version please. And with the recent phenomenal restoration of another Fox gem to Blu-Ray: The Sound of Music - hopefully the same TLC will be shown with another 8K from 65mm Camera negatives and full attention given to restoring the soundtrack as well. The bar has been set to higher standards - hopefully we may have another Blu-Ray success here.

I have no doubt Fox will be giving this the "Sound of Music" treatment. Both films were in Fox's "Five Star Collection" on DVD and I believe there is a remake in the works as a big screen vehicle for Angelina Jolie. The great catalog titles get me more excited about high definition release than the newer films released on the format. But chance are, it won't see a Blu-ray release until the remake is in theaters.. .

According to this site "Sky TV" showed the movie in HD on 3rd of May last year.

It would be a day one buy for me.........

It's shown in HD on Sky frequently and looks incredible! I bought the UK 3 DVD collector's edition on the strength of watching it in HD but the picture quality, as good as it is, is so washed out, blurry and edgy in comparison. It would look superb on Blu in full 1080p as opposed to 1080i as it's shown on Sky.

It's shown in HD on Sky frequently and looks incredible! I bought the UK 3 DVD collector's edition on the strength of watching it in HD but the picture quality, as good as it is, is so washed out, blurry and edgy in comparison. It would look superb on Blu in full 1080p as opposed to 1080i as it's shown on Sky.

Matt

I've also been lucky to catch it recently on the Digital Fox Movie channel and it looks and sounds fantastic on my HDTV Plasma. Makes you begin to wonder what holds up some of these movies especially the Elizabeth Taylor, Rex Harrison and Richard Burton 1963 version of Cleopatra - I am patiently waiting as are you all. Let's hope when Fox finally releases this movie it comes with a stunning transfer to Blu-Ray.